Corrective Services

Unions urge action on detention centres

A statement from CPSU-SPSF

Tonight, (Tuesday) with great distress and sadness, we watched the ABC Lateline programme on Curtin Detention Centre.
On 11 February, and again on the 11 March 2002 the Union representing State Public Sector workers issued a statement calling on the Governments to act to take a role in the Detention Centre policy pursed by the Commonwealth Government.

The Union said then that a cost will be paid by the Australian community if the policy was not changed. Tonight after the revelations of the situation at the Curtin Detention Centre the Union without hesitation says it's predictions, sadly and with deep distress, have come true.

These centres, and the policy of unaccountable private corporations and staff running them, for profit, have to be changed or closed.

In the Union's statement of 11 March, 2002 the Federal Secretary, David Carey, said:

"No child in State care would have to go through what a child, in the care of ACM in a Detention Centre, on behalf of the Federal Government, goes through.

Not even a convicted prisoner, in a State Gaol, is supervised by such untrained custodial staff, without State supervision and accountability.

No State health or psychological patient service is provided by professionals who have a secret "commercial in confidence" stricture that overrides their obligation to a patient in a State Hospital.

Mr Carey said, "Tonight, we have now seen what happens when a flawed policy, a harsh environment, and the lack of public scrutiny and accountability are combined.

"We cannot urge more strongly that State Labor Governments step in and demand a change. They have to try to stop the tragedy that is being perpetrated in their States by the Commonwealth. "

Our original Statement is printed below.

11th March 2002
Media Statement by State Employee's Union on Detention Centres
Our organization the CPSU SPSF, a national Union representing State Government employees*, has serious problems with the policy of compulsory detention of Asylum Seekers and "Illegal" Immigrants and the way they are treated in Detention Centres.

We are concerned with the lack of accountability inherent in the conduct of this policy which is being carried out on our behalf as citizens, and frequently, involves members of our Unions.

It cannot be acceptable that this "national policy" that dictates Detention, and then the necessity to provide welfare, physical and psychological health, custodial practice, child education and protection services, to those detainees, adopted on behalf of the people of Australia, can be conducted, in nearly every state, by a Federal Government administrative department (DIMA) which has none of those capacities.

Further that it has subcontracted those functions to a private commercial interest that has no expertise in these matters, to organise and deliver.

It is disturbing to us that some State employees, at times become involved and professionally engaged to provide these services in detention centres, or, when circumstances cause Detainees to be brought to State services for attention, are then bound to the private commercial detention organisation to act "confidentially" on matters where they would normally be compelled to be publicly accountable to the State.

No child in State care would have to go through what a child, in the care of ACM in a Detention Centre, on behalf of the Federal Government, goes through.

Not even a convicted prisoner, in a State Gaol, is supervised by such untrained custodial staff, without State supervision and accountability.

No State Health or psychological patient service is provided by professionals who have a secret "commercial in confidence" stricture that overrides their obligation to a patient in a State Hospital.

These Centres exist in most States. (NSW, South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria). They are frequently dealing with matters covered by State Regulations and Laws. The Services of State Governments are being constantly used by the Federal Government to make the Detention policy work.

It is now time for the State Governments to step in and demand supervision of those services as a condition of hosting the Detention Centres, responding to requests for and providing State based services.

Arguments about the technicalities of the Federal /State jurisdictional responsibilities should not be tolerated as an impediment to this.

The Federal Government has started a detention policy, which involves responsibilities to detainees which it now cannot carry out. It has contracted these detention policies to a commercial organisation that cannot deliver.

The Australian people are being made to bear the outcome of this dangerous combination.

No action, by any Government, or people working for that Government, can be exempted from control and review, by the people or the elected representatives of the people, on whose behalf that Government acts.

That is what we demand from State Governments. It is time the State Governments stood up and told the Federal Government they will not cooperate unless the Federal Government does the same, or hands the supervision of these matters to those who know how to do it.

*The Union represents State public Community and Welfare Services, Juvenile Justice, Health, Prison Officers and Child Protection workers.

© 2001 Community & Public Sector Union - State Public Services Federation (CPSU-SPSF) - National Office

http://www.cpsu-spsf.asn.au/latest_news/corr_services/20030521_detention.html
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005